Railway-signal



W. N. HECKETHORN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

y APPLICATION FILED MAY14. 1918A 1,320,391 Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. N. HECKETHORN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. |918.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sraans 1 nanna ernten.

WILLIAM N. HECKETHORN, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

Y Application filed May 14, 1918. Serial No. 234,367.

`,train to repeatedly actuate an operating Aso mechanism, whereby a sustained signal will be given while a train is approaching a ygiven point.` It is also an important aim of the invention to present a desirable construction in parts for a signaliapparatus of the Vcharacter indicated, and additional objects, advantages and features of invention will appear from the relation of parts, their combination and in certain features of specific construction. Y

In the drawings forming a part of this applicatiom Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of track and crossing highway with which my invention is associate Fig. 2 isa side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3V is a cross sectional detail of the signal device,

F ig. 4 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detailof one of the track actuators,

F ig. 6 is a cross 0f Fig. 5,

` Fig.V 7 is a cross section on thel line 7-7 of'Fig. 5.

There is illustrated a section of track l0 crossed by a highway 11, and close beside the track and highway a signal apparatus 12 is erected, comprising a tower 13 of any section on the line 6`6 suitable construction, uponjthe upper part of which there is mounted to rotate a shaft 14, parallel to the mean Vdirection of the highwav l1 immediatelyv adjacent the railtwo ratchet wheels such as shown at 17 in Fig. 6, having a hub mounting 18 secured upon the shaft. Rocking pawl carriers 19 are mounted upon the shaft, inclosing the ratchet wheels, and carrying spring pressed pawls 20 engaged with the ratchet wheels, whereby alternative rocking of either of the elements 19 will result in rotation of the shaft 14. The pawl carriers, may be termed rocker elements, and each is provided with an arm 21, respective links 22 being connected thereto and extended down- Vwardly and engaged with Shanks 23 at the adjacent ends of two horizontal rocker shafts 24 mounted at the base of the tower, extending to `within a short distance of the track 10,V and located considerably below the track. Adjacent'the track the shafts 24 are provided with upwardly extending arms 25 to which there are connected track rods 35, extending in opposite directions beside the track 10, and connected at their outer ends to the cranks 36 of the actuators 37 located beside the track at suitable distances from the highway l1, as will be explained. One of the track rods 35, extending beneath the highway 11 is carried in a conduitn35 for its protection. The track device 37 comprises a base portion 38, in two parts, each so shaped at the inner part as to fit snugly upon one half of the rail iiangen 39, and'having opposed flanges bolted together as at 40 to hold the device securely clamped upon the rail. Through the base a suitable bearing is formed, in which a rock shaft 41 is mounted having at the inner side of the rail a striker forging 42, upon which is substantially mounted a wiper roller 43 located at about the level of the tread 44 ofthe rail, this shaft projecting at the outer side of the base 38 land having splined thereon a hub 45, upon which a ratchet wheel 17 is keyed. The hub is formed with an annular recess 47 at the side next the rail, an integral lug `or stud 49 extending across the recess at one side. The adjacent element of the base 38 is provided with a lug 48 projecting into the recess 47, and between this lug and the lug 48 on each side there are confined springs 50, by which the hub 45 is held yieldably in onev position, with the wiper roller 43 at the initial position. The springs serve to hold the roller 43 yieldably in a central position movable in either direction ri'hen ei'igaged by a car wheel flange. The

hub is provided with an elongated bearing portion 51 at the outer part, upon which there rotates a pawl carrier 19, havingl an annular tasing portion 53 circumscribing the ratchet wheel 17, the hub 45 having a flange 54 fitting within the housing portion 53 whereby the ratchet wheel and coengaging parts are inclosed. Bearing rollers may be interposed between the parts 51 and 19 if desired. Upon the nawl carrier within the casing 53 there are mounted the pawls 20 before mentioned, the springs 20 engaging the pawls being secured upon the outer part of the housing 53.

A bell ringing mechanism 26 is operatively associated with the shaft 14 So that upon rotation of the latter a bell 27 will be rung as an alarm. Also upon the tower a signal light 28 is provided, within a suitable housing ported at 29, a shutter 30 being pivoted adjacent this opening upon a rock shaft 31 upon oscillation of which the shutter will alternately close and open the port. The shaft is provided with a broadened arm 32, and extended slidably upward through the lamp housing there are lift rods 33, connected at their lower parts to the arms 21 before mentioned. Thus, oscillation of either of the arms will cause t-he respective rods to lift the arm 32 and operate the shutter 30.

It will be seen that in operation, the ratchet wheels in the track elements 37 at opposite sides of the highway 11 being positioned to engage the pawls only under the movement of the arm 42 due to engagement of the wheels of a train approaching the crossing, as a train passes the track element, each wheel as it goes by will oscillate the arm 42, producing rotary movement of the pawl carrier 19, the crank arm 36 of which will then reciprocate the track rods 35 causing a rocking movement of the shaft 24 at the adjacent side, and through the pawls on the shaft 14 rotative movement of the blades 15 will be produced. Correspondingly, trains moving away from the crossing will not operate the devices 37, so that needless alarm will not be given. The ratchets 18 may be of the same construction as the ratchet devices of the track element 36, eX- cept that the hub Velement thereof will not require to be engaged by any spring as in the case of" the device shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. By this mean-s, a steady rotation of the blades 15 will be produced by trains approaching the crossingin either direction, without requiring the use of spring or elec'- tric motors, or other devices of a similar nature. The shutter element 30 may'be ofV red glass, so that when the device is 1n operation a series of red and white flashes will be projected alternately from the signal light assuring adequate warning at night, when the blades 15 might not otherwise be observable.

What is claimed:

1. A railway signal comprising a track, a signal device, operating devices spaced longitudinally of the track for respective operation of the signal by trains approaching in opposite directions, each operating device including a sectional base including opposed elements constructed to wedge upon a rail iange and clamped together upon one rail of the track, a revoluble shaft thereon transverse to the track, a strike arm fixed on one end of the shaft closely inward of the rail, a hub element oirthe outer end, resilient'means coengaged between Vthe base and hub to hold the hub yieldably in initial po sition, a ratchet wheel fixed on the hub, a crank element revoluble on the hub, pawls thereon engaging the ratchet wheel, the

ratchet wheels and pawls being oppositely arrangedin the operating devices onV opposite sides of the track and operative connections between the operating devices and signal.

2. A railway signal comprising a tower, a revoluble shaft thereon, a plurality of arms thereon, without the tower, a lamp housing adjacent the arms and inwardly thereof having a light port opening in aV direction parallel to the shaft and within the radius of the arms, train operated means to rotate the shaft, an oscillatable shutter before the port and operative connections between the shuts ter and said trainoperated means.

ln testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WLLIAM N. HECKETHORN.

Witnesses; Y f

EUoLA B. HOLGATE, D. B. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each7 by addressing the Commissioner of Patents',

Washington, D. C. 

